Kevin Feely: New coaching team a ‘statement’ for Kildare football

Feely said Davy Burke is "sacrificing a potential number one role in another county" by joining Brian Flanagan's Kildare backroom team. 

Davy Burke managed Kildare to an All-Ireland U20 title in 2018. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Kildare captain Kevin Feely is delighted the county has added former Roscommon and Wicklow manager Davy Burke to Brian Flanagan’s ticket.

Burke guided Kildare to the All-Ireland U20 title in 2018. His three seasons with Roscommon came to an end earlier this year.

Flanagan’s side won the Tailteann Cup in his first season. Speaking on the Irish Examiner’s Gaelic football podcast for subscribers, Feely said the new addition was a real statement.

“I was surprised initially, but the more I thought about the people involved, the less I am surprised and I am really excited about it,” Feely said.

“Davy is an unbelievable coach and always will be. I think the two lads showed an incredible humility to decide this could be what is best for Kildare. Davy in sacrificing a potential number one role in another county.

“Flanno in bringing in the person who would have been considered his biggest competition for the job. That is such a statement to everyone, to all of us, that these people just want the best for Kildare. If we can combine those minds and add top class coaching quality, which Davy Burke will bring, to add to what Aidan O’Rourke is doing.

“Flanno was a brilliant coach in his own right, he has completely adopted the manager position very seamlessly. He has accepted, ‘I don’t need to control everything here.. I’ll allow my coaches coach and I’ll manage, even though he is well capable of offering coaching as well. It was a really exciting move. I can’t wait for it.” 

As for their 2026 ambitions, Feely stressed Kildare can’t afford to get carried away after one promising campaign.

“Hopefully better again than last year without sounding a little bit obtuse. That is as much as I would be willing to go with at the moment because we have been part of too many over-ambitious years with Kildare to get carried away with that.

“Consolidate in Division 2, represent ourselves well in Leinster, similar to what we did this year with better results hopefully and being competitive in Sam Maguire. We haven’t really earned the right to have more ambitions than that just yet.

“It would be too big a jump to go from Division 3, Tailteann Cup to winning this and that. Obviously, in the back of everyone’s mind, they are going to have the ultimate goal which is to get promoted, win the province, go well in an All-Ireland. Realistically, I just want us to be better next year again than we were last year and I’d be very happy with that.”